Bernard: A Jack of all trades

Bernard Jackman might have missed out on playing international rugby for Ireland if he had gone to study in Japan during his degree in International Marketing and Japanese at DCU a decade ago.

At a crucial stage in his education, the Irish hooker transferred over to Business Studies and moved to Galway to pursue his rugby career.

Such sacrifice can be considered a high risk strategy for any student, but for Carlow-born Jackman the risk has paid off and he is now a full Irish international.

Coincidentally it was on a summer rugby tour of Japan in 2005 that the Tullow man earned the fi rst of his nine Ireland caps since waving sayonara to DCU.

Jackman, 31, recalls how he was persuaded by Wales coach Warren Gatland, then coach of Connacht, to stay in Ireland and concentrate on a career in rugby.

“It was a bit of a dilemma,” says Jackman, who was being offered a professional contract at the time. “He (Gatland) told me if I went to Japan, he couldn’t guarantee the contract would be there when I got back and that I might never get the opportunity again.

“If I had gone to Japan, I very much doubt that I would have made it. I would have fallen too far behind.” Indeed this was one of many cross-roads where the career of Bernard Jackman could have taken a turn for the worst.

Despite representing Ireland at U-19, U-21, Colleges and ‘A’ level, and touring South Africa in 1998, Jackman had to wait seven years before he got his fi rst senior cap as a substitute against Japan.

Three years later, following last summer’s tour to Argentina and narrowly missing out on Ireland’s Rugby World Cup selection, he made his full test debut against France in this year’s Six Nations tournament.

Jackman, who will be 32 in May, admits he was a relieved man after finally breaking into the senior team almost a decade after he was first selected for Ireland. “To be honest, I never thought I would make it as a professional rugby player. There were times in my career when I thought I wasn’t going to get in. He added: “My ambition now is to play more times for Ireland.”

As an amateur at Lansdowne, Jackman was signed by TV Rugby Pundit Brent Pope, then coach of Clontarf. A move Jackman regards as ‘the best thing he ever did’: “Only for Clontarf, I would have never gotten my contract.”

Following a spell with Connacht and Leinster, he joined Sale Sharks. There he won a European Shield medal, before rejoining Connacht and then his current club Leinster, where he plays alongside DCU colleagues Jamie Heaslip and Trevor Hogan.

Since coming full circle, Jackman has made the No2 jersey at Leinster his own and is now a regular for the province who currently sit top of the Magners League table. “I’m really enjoying playing for Leinster and as a team we’re going forward.”

In recent seasons, Jackman has been enhancing his coaching credentials as he prepares for a coaching career in rugby when his playing days are over. After managing his hometown Tullow, he went on to guide his old school club Newbridge to Division 2 of the Leinster League. ”I ended up coaching some of the lads I went to school with,” laughs Jackman.

The Leinster hooker, who is currently coaching Leinster Junior League side Coolmine RFC, hopes to become a professional coach eventually. ”I’d love to make a living out of coaching. I really enjoy it and I get a lot back from it,” says Jackman.

“By the time I’m fi nished playing, I’ll be an experienced coach and hopefully that will stand to me when I apply for a prominent coaching role in a senior club.”

Jackman, who graduated with a BA in Business and Languages, says he enjoyed his student days at DCU, even though he could not always embrace the fun and frolics of student life.

“I made good friends, but never really got to enjoy the social side of DCU. With the rugby, I didn’t get much chance to socialise and for the last two years, when I was at Connacht, I was commuting up and down from Galway,” says Jackman.

“It was disappointing, but if I had immersed myself in extracurricular activities as much as other students, I might not have had a career in rugby.”

The Business graduate is indebted to DCU Rugby Club for his fond memories of college rugby and giving him the opportunity to play for the Irish Colleges. “I was a member of the rugby club and I played 10 or 12 times for DCU in various college games.”

He added: “I really enjoyed the rugby at DCU because it was a real relaxed way of playing; you go out and have a bit of fun while still being competitive.”

In a closing remark, Jackman asserted his delight at being an ambassador for the university.

“DCU is a great university for all sports and I’m very proud of the fact that I graduated from there.”